Girls Basketball: Semi-State Preview

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By Erica Rath

For VYPE Magazine (Central Indiana)

This weekend the 16 remaining high school girls’ basketball teams will battle to earn a spot in the championship game on March 2 in Terre Haute. Eight games will be played, and eventually, four champions, one from each class, will be named.

Heritage Christian’s young team, consisting of no seniors and just one junior, has earned a No. 2 ranking in Class 2A. Despite having great potential for the future, the team is focused on the present. The Lady Eagles take on No. 1 Evansville Mater Dei at Bedford North Lawrence at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Both teams have just two losses on the season and won their regional games in convincing fashion.

“This weekend’s game should be a great one with both teams expecting a tough game to advance to the state championship this weekend,” Heritage Christian head coach Rick Risinger said.

Mater Dei is the defending 2A state champion. Last year they defeated Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, 56-52, in the title game. With both Mater Dei and Bishop Luers still alive in the tournament, Heritage Christian hopes to slide into the finals to prevent a rematch from last year.

The winner of the Evansville Mater Dei/ Heritage Christian game will take on the winner of the Eastern (Greentown)/Fort Wayne Bishop Luers game which takes place at Warsaw High School at 4 p.m. this Saturday.

In Class A, Southwestern won big over Shakamak in the regional round to earn a spot in the semi-state round this weekend. Southwestern, who has a record of 21-4, will take on Vincennes Rivet at Richmond High School at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Last year, the Southwestern girls lost to Northeast Dubois, 54-51, in semi-state. This year’s team consists of four key players from last year’s squad. They have been here before and surely want to improve on their experience from last year.

The winner of Southwestern/Vincennes Rivet will take on the winner of Lafayette Central Catholic and Fort Wayne Canterbury.

Another Central Indiana team, Roncalli, will battle for a bid in the championship game in 4A. Led by senior Bridget Perry, who signed with Purdue earlier this year, the Rebels won their first regional title with a win over Moorseville, 42-32. Roncalli will face an unbeaten Bedford North Lawrence team on their home court Saturday afternoon.

Bedford North Lawrence is ranked No. 2 in the state. The winner of the game plays the winner of Fort Wayne South Side/Warsaw.

Both Hamilton Heights and Mount Vernon (Fortville) have earned a final four spot in 3A. The two Central Indiana teams must beat Benton Central and Rushville, respectively, to face each other in the finals.

Erica Moore of Mount Vernon made a crucial comeback from a knee injury just before the state tournament began. The Marauders have beaten Lebanon and Indian Creek by a combined score of just six points to make it to the semifinal stage. Last year, Mount Vernon was state runner-up.

The Huskies squeaked by the defending 3A state champion Fort Wayne Concordia to face Benton Central in the semi-state.

“We played in an extremely difficult regional and gained a wealth of experience playing in two tough closely fought games,” Hamilton Heights Head Coach Todd Windlan said. “I believe if we shoot the ball well and rebound we have a good shot at playing for the State 3A championship.”

The Hamilton Heights/Benton Central game will be at Crown Point. The Mount Vernon/Rushville game will be at Richmond.